New Zealand · CANOES & KAYAKS

The 15 Best Sea Kayaking Trips in New Zealand

81 tours  ·  from $56

Cathedral Cove from the water, Abel Tasman's granite bays, a seal colony at Kaikoura at eye level. These 15 trips are compared on paddling hours, group size and how much of the day involves actual instruction.

Cathedral Cove Kayak Tour - Sea caves, rock gardens, and kayak sailing
Canoes & Kayaks, Cathedral Cove Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cathedral Cove Kayak Tour

1.Cathedral Cove Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 887 reviews · from $127Our pick

Paddle from Hahei Beach into Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve with a small group of up to eight. Guides such as Georgia, Ollie, Brad, Nathan, and AJ lead the way through sea caves and rock gardens, then serve cappuccinos, hot chocolate, tea, and cookies at Cathedral Cove.

“This was an excellent activity - a real memorable highlight of our 3 week trip around NZ. The kayaks were stable and easy to manoeuvre and the guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommended.”

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Twilight Glowworm Kayak Tour – Lake Karapiro - Getting fitted before you paddle
Canoes & Kayaks, Kayaking Trips in Rotorua, Kayaking Trips in Waitomo, Rotorua Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Waitomo Tours

Twilight Glowworm Kayak Tour – Lake Karapiro

2.Twilight Glowworm Kayak Tour – Lake Karapiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 493 reviews · from $92

Paddle from Lake Karapiro into the Pokaiwhenua Stream as daylight fades. Riverside Adventures supplies the kayak, PFD, wet shoes, splash gear, and dry bags. Guides such as Daniel, Amy, Jess, and Lofty add local nature and star lore before the return trip reveals the glowworms.

“I prefer paddling the river instead of just an open lake; also the open “gorge” was amazing! We floated through a long stretch of glow worms for over 20 minutes. We had a very clear night, the star gazing was incredible. Our guides were so nice and accommodating.”

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Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura - Starting at 17 Killarney Street
Canoes & Kayaks, Kaikoura Tours, Kayaking Trips in Kaikoura, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife

Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour – Kaikoura

3.Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour – Kaikoura

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 467 reviews · from $99

Paddle the Kaikoura Peninsula with guides such as Loz, Cam, Holt, and Rosie, learning about fur seals, seabirds, Māori culture, and coastal wildlife. The roughly three-hour tour includes about 1.5 hours on the water, stable kayaks, safety gear, and a chance to spot dolphins or blue penguins.

“The kayaks were deluxe. The guides gave very clear directions and were focused on safety. We got very close to the seals and learned a lot about them from the guides.”

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Seal Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura - Along the Kaikoura Peninsula
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Seal Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura

4.Seal Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 422 reviews · from $83

Set out from 18 Beach Road for a roughly three-hour guided kayak around Kaikoura Peninsula. Easy foot-pedal kayaks let you steer and take photos without paddling. Guides such as Logan, Eva, Connor, Emma, Levi, and Richie share local wildlife knowledge while you look for fur seals, dolphins, seabirds, and possibly a blue penguin.

“I was a little worried about my fitness level, but the peddling option was easy. You are just cruising slowly taking in the sites so there is no hard physical activity. The back support chairs are super. The weather was perfect, so very fortunate. Didn't see as many seals as I was hoping but that's just luck of the draw. The scenery and birdlife was great.”

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Small-Group Kayak Adventure from Franz Josef Glacier - Why the dark water matters
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Small-Group Kayak Adventure from Franz Josef Glacier

5.Small-Group Kayak Adventure from Franz Josef Glacier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 393 reviews · from $92

Spend about three hours kayaking Lake Mapourika with a local guide such as Ollie, Max, or Dani. Paddle calm water toward a protected kiwi area and untouched rainforest, learn about local wildlife and geology, and receive digital photos. Transport, instruction, kayaks, dry bags, and weather gear are included.

“We had a great time with guides Pickles and Farrah. Both were knowledgeable of area, especially wildlife. Good instructions on safety procedures which led to a great paddle. It’s a challenging but do able paddle for all levels. Highly recommend!”

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Kaikoura: Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour - Meeting the guides and learning the basics
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Kaikoura: Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour

6.Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 390 reviews · 3 hours · from $95

Spend three hours around Kaikoura’s rugged coast with guides such as Cam, Emma, Holt, and Loz. After a safety lesson, paddle for 1.5 to 2 hours in a stable kayak, watching fur seals at close range and looking for dusky dolphins, blue penguins, birds, and passing whales.

“Excellent tour with Emma and Matt! We really enjoyed it and saw plenty of seals and blue penguins too! Would highly recommend to anyone looking to kayak in Kaikōura - not to be missed!”

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Rotorua: Glow Worm Kayak Tour - From Rotorua to the lake in 15 minutes
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Rotorua: Glow Worm Kayak Tour

7.Glow Worm Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 351 reviews · 3 hours · from $116

Paddle a two-person sit-on-top kayak across Lake Okareka as daylight fades, then follow your English-speaking guide into small caves lit by glow worms. Taiao Adventures provides transport, kayaks, safety gear, and warm outer layers. The calm lake suits beginners, and clear skies may reveal the Milky Way.

“Nothing could be improved… highly recommend. Exceeded our expectations.”

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Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown - The Queenstown to Glenorchy journey
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Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown

8.Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 342 reviews · from $273

Ride a jet boat upriver, then paddle an inflatable funyak through Mt Aspiring National Park with guides such as Rob, JJ, Nikki, and Ella. Expect Tolkien-style scenery, side canyons, a picnic lunch, supplied gear, and a long day outdoors. No canoeing experience is needed, but some paddling and rock dragging can be hard work.

“Just do it! I was reluctant thinking I wasn’t fit enough but it was the best day ever. Nikki our jet boat driver was very experienced and made our ride out to the start of our funyaks journey exciting, stopping along the way to give us interesRead more”

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Glow Worm Kayak Tour - Getting dressed for a New Zealand night
Canoes & Kayaks, Kayaking Trips in Rotorua, Kayaking Trips in Waitomo, Rotorua Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Waitomo Tours

Glow Worm Kayak Tour

9.Glow Worm Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 342 reviews · from $121

Meet at Rotorua’s Information Centre and ride past the Redwood forest to a lakeside base. After a safety lesson and warm, water-ready gear, you’ll paddle into several small glow worm caves with a guide such as Kaisha, Sam, Tom, or Forrest. Expect a calm, social night on the water, with stargazing if skies are clear.

“I had called the booking company and was told this was gonna be canceled secondary to weather and that I would be refunded. I never received a cancellation email or a refund of my money.”

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Tauranga: Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour - A generous taste of Aotearoa before paddling
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Tauranga: Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour

10.Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 311 reviews

Meet Waimarino Kayak Tours in Tauranga for a 3-hour-15-minute evening trip to Lake McLaren. Guides such as Ellie, Lucy, Darragh, Frosty, and Leo lead you through calm water and into a narrow glowworm canyon, with equipment and light refreshments included.

“We had a fantastic time with Lucy & Darragh as our guides! It was simple, it was fun, and we enjoyed the new adventure of kayaking as neither I nor my husband had done it before. The glow worms (which aren’t actually glow worms as we’ve coincidentally figured out) were gorgeous! It was also lovely knowing the science and the Māori knowledge behind them. Thank you for a fun experience we’ll continue to look fondly back on!”

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Auckland: Night Kayak Tour in Glowing Bioluminescent Waters - Choosing between Okura Boat Ramp and Waiake Beach
Auckland Tours, Canoes & Kayaks, Evening Experiences, Evening Tours in Auckland, Kayaking Trips in Auckland, Tour Reviews, Tours

Auckland: Night Kayak Tour in Glowing Bioluminescent Waters

11.Night Kayak Tour in Glowing Bioluminescent Waters

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 259 reviews · 90 minutes - 2 hours · from $56

Paddle from Okura Boat Ramp or Waiake Beach with guides such as Paul, Maurice, Haley, or Millie, depending on the evening. After a safety briefing, you’ll search for glowing plankton, learn how four marine microorganisms make their light, and watch stars above a dark bay.

“You can tell they truly love what they do, and it made the experience that much better. I walked away with new facts, great memories, and a deeper appreciation for the place”

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Tauranga: Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour - A generous taste of Aotearoa before paddling
Canoes & Kayaks, Evening Experiences, Kayaking Trips in Waitomo, Tauranga Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Waitomo Tours

Tauranga: Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour

12.Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 206 reviews · 3 hours · from $134

Meet at 36 Taniwha Place for a three-hour evening outing to Lake McLaren. Enjoy New Zealand cheese, honey, fruit, and kombucha before paddling into Mangapapa Canyon. Guides such as Ellie, Aaron, Lucy, and Tom provide gear, safety help, Māori stories, and glowworm facts.

“It was a lot of fun and the guides were very friendly. The snacks were okay and I really liked all the equipment we could choose from like warm sleeves and a rain jacket. The glowworms really did look magical and I feel like we could spend enough time admiring them.”

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Bioluminescence Kayak Tour - Est. 1994 - Learning to kayak before darkness arrives
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Bioluminescence Kayak Tour – Est. 1994

13.Bioluminescence Kayak Tour – Est. 1994

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 187 reviews · from $73

Learn sea kayaking with qualified guides from Canoe & Kayak Adventures, then paddle into the dark waters of Long Bay Okura Marine Reserve. Guides such as Gareth, Eloise, Josh, Elena, and Paul help beginners feel safe while you look for glowing plankton, stars, and occasional glow worms.

“Kayaking was fun however the glow Of the water was underwhelming to my husband… and we could Not get photos and videos like we would have expected! However guides were both very friendly”

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Sunset kayak tour to Rangitoto Island - Reaching the volcanic island after an hour on the water
Auckland Tours, Canoes & Kayaks, Evening Experiences, Evening Tours in Auckland, Kayaking Trips in Auckland, Tour Reviews, Tours

Sunset kayak tour to Rangitoto Island

14.Sunset kayak tour to Rangitoto Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 168 reviews · from $152

Set out from Parnell with an experienced guide such as Daniel, Byron, or Eric for a roughly 10-kilometre return paddle to Rangitoto. Enjoy a barbecue, hike to the summit, watch the sunset, and return by kayak after dark. Equipment and small-group guidance are included.

“This is a physical activity. Roughly an hour of kayak to and from the island and the hike is moderate (30-40 minutes) to steep (15 minutes). This was fun and different to do and we had a very good guide who prepared us a great late lunch on Rangitoto before hiking. Really interesting and beautiful experience. Thank you, Nathan!”

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The Maori Carvings Half Day Kayak - Starting at 54 Spa Road in Taupō
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The Maori Carvings Half Day Kayak

15.The Maori Carvings Half Day Kayak

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 167 reviews · from $83

Set out from Jerusalem Bay with Canoe and Kayak Taupo Tours for a guided paddle to Lake Taupō’s Māori rock carvings. Guides such as Laura, Lisa, and Tammy provide instruction and local stories. The four-hour trip includes gear, snacks, photos, and time for an optional swim.

“The guides were very knowledgeable and helpful, Lisa even brought us to the bank to re-adjust our pedals and the other guide pulled us for a bit!!!”

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